switches help

[rhltechie]

Hi All,

I am planning on using these switches .

well when i look below it says at 12v it takes 8.3 amps PER pole..i am planning on a dual switch. i am a little confused...do i need to include the amperage of these switches when i am considering what gauge wire i need to use? i had no clue that switches used amps..unless they were lighted!!

can someone help me out?

thanks

[TPMcGinty]

Hi All,

I am planning on using these switches .

well when i look below it says at 12v it takes 8.3 amps PER pole..i am planning on a dual switch. i am a little confused...do i need to include the amperage of these switches when i am considering what gauge wire i need to use? i had no clue that switches used amps..unless they were lighted!!

can someone help me out?

thanks

More than likely it is capable of carrying 8.3 amps per pole. Switches don't "use" amps.

[rhltechie]

thanks for your quick reply....i was just wondering, cause 8.3 amps seems a little extreme!!

[sid]

Mandy,

We have those same switches for our outside lights on this build, and used them for the same on our first build.

We run good 18 gage speaker wire for all of our 12 volt... radio, outside lights, LED reading lights, galley light and a couple of 12 volt accessory plugs.

[Steve_Cox]

Mandy,

Nice switches

[BPFox]

Mandy, switches don't "use amps" but they are rated for maximum amps because the amps do flow through the switch just like they flow through the wire. The device or load determines the amps, but all of the components in the circuit need to be rated to handle that load. Just like you size your wire to handle the load, the switches also must be able to handle the load as well. Hope this helps.

[rhltechie]

thanks for the replies...it makes much more sense now. and in that case 8.3 amps seems like a lotta switches!! specially if they are LED.

thanks again

[toypusher]

thanks for the replies...it makes much more sense now. and in that case 8.3 amps seems like a lotta switches!! specially if they are LED.

thanks again

Just remember - too big is OK, but too small is a no no!! But, with fuses it is just the opposite!!!

[Arne]

Wow, I used household switches (at a buck a piece) for my 12volt... You guys are out of my league.

Well, actually, I only have one light switch, so it really was only 1 dollar.